Argonne Trust Company hit its second snag in as many weeks when the Dell Rapids City Council denied its request to rezone the lot at 503 E. Sixth Street from residential to business.

The financial company with ties to the east coast recently purchased the old Episcopal Church for $230,000 with the intention of using it as its state headquarters. The firm needs to get the property rezoned from its current residential status if the plan is to come to fruition, but residents in the neighborhood, the planning and zoning board and now the City Council have all expressed disapproval of the company’s ambitions.

The council voted unanimously to deny Argonne’s request to rezone at its July 1 meeting at City Hall.

The council directed city administration to review the feasibility of offering Argonne a conditional use permit, which would allow only that company to operate out of the facility. If they were to relocate, the building would go back to residential use.

Existing city code does not give the local government the ability to issue conditional use permits. The City Council would need to amend its existing ordinance to allow for a conditional use permit to be issued.